In search for the origins

Part 5

Harriet did a real fine job, so we had time enough to take all our things. We even took some of the few pictures we had of May and me when we were kids. It was probably of our first days with our new family, and I looked a bit scared. To be true, I had always wondered why there were not pics of me as a baby, but never dared to ask openly about it. Maybe I should have.

-Well, are we through? Let's go then...even Harriet has a limit! Oh, by the way, she said she'd come later to tell us how she managed...

-I hope she will have talked for the whole day!

We couldn't but laugh, with Allen's joke. True, Harriet talked and talked, but that defect of hers had helped us quite a lot, in that occasion. And we were really grateful for it. And besides, she turned out to be a really funny woman...the way she described how had she made our foster mother to listen to her for almost two hours, was simply hilarious. She didn't stay much long, so we had time enough to unpack our things and decide what we'd take to the trip to Montana. We'd go out early in the morning, the following day, so we had a lot of things to do. Our idea was to go as far as a could, and sleep in some motel in Idaho, near the border with Montana. It was quite a long way, but there were four of us to drive. Luckily, Sue's folks had let her come with us, and she would sleep in Jess and Allen's house, it would be more confortable for everyone. About six or so, I wen to her house, to pick her. Her parents, Hugh and Joanne, were there, and invited me to dinner. I just couldn't refuse, so I phoned Jess to tell her not to wait for me. It was a really nice dinner, and they tried to avoid any kind of reference to the most recent news about my origins. Still, when we were about to leave, it was rather hard not to mention the real reasons for going to Montana.

-Well...I hope you have luck in this trip, I mean it. Have a nice trip, and you, Sue, honey, phone us tomorrow, from the motel, ok? Andrew, take care of her, will you?

-I will, sure I will. Here, give me your suitcase. Holy God, what do you have in it?

-You know...just in case, never know what you might need!

That night, about nine, we decided it was time to go to bed. We'd have to get up at five, if we wanted to go at seven. We had already organized the driving turns. Allen and Jess would drive first, and then Sue and me. With four or five hours driving each one of us, we could make it to the Montana border. Then, the other day, we'd arrive soon to Billings.

Before going to bed, I stayed in the porch for a while, smoking. I am not a heavy smoker, just from time to time, but right then I needed it, probably as a way to calm down my mind. I didn't know what would I find out in Billings...there could be bad news, and I had to be ready for that.

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-Get up, sleeping beauties, road is waiting for us!

Oh God...where on earth had Jess hidden all that energy, so early in the morning? I looked at my watch. Ten to five. With a sigh, I just got up and opened the window. Then, went down to the kitchen. It was invaded with a nice smell to coffee and scrambled eggs. Yawning, I started having my breakfast. Allen was around, already dressed.

Morning! Is there some coffee left? I think I need it!

In a moment, May and Sue were downstairs too...and they looked pretty tired, specially May...

-I haven't almost slept...what a night!

-I told you I don't snore, May!

-Who else then? Andy wasn't in our room! I don't blame you, I know you can't help it, but...

I burst into laughter. She didn't know it, but Sue did snore. A lot, as a matter of fact.

-Sorry, honey, but yes, you snore. Remember that night at...?-She gave me a stern look, before heading to the bathroom -Well, I'd rather go take a shower.

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Not much longer, we were already en route. Allen and Jess had told their neighbours they'd be out for some days, and they would watch the house. We had made some sándwiches for the road, that way we wouldn't have to stop if we didn't need it, and had drinks too. Allen's car was quite big, and there was place enough for May, Sue and me in the rear seat. I was in the middle, between they two...after some time, Sue felt asleep, with her head on my shoulder. I kept looking through the car window, noticing how the landscape was changing, from the greenery of California to the deserts in Nevada. Still, it had its beauty. It could be because I was rather keen on western movies, but I did enjoy crossing the desert.